DARK MOOR Project X

I used to play the early Dark Moor albums quite frequently some years ago, especially the ‘The Hall Of The Olden Dreams’ album, but I somehow lost my interest in the band when their charismatic singer Elisa Martin left the band being replaced by Alfred Romero. I simply felt that they lost some of their uniqueness with her departure. That means I’ve missed out on some of their later albums, but ‘Project X’ shows a band that has developed over the years and their music is inspired by several different genres. I used to think of Dark Moor as a symphonic power metal band, but by now they are just as much hard rock/AOR with a few progressive elements incorporated as well. At times I get a certain Sonata Arctica feel when listening to this album, while I at other times catch myself thinking of names associated with the 70’s prog rock scene. Alfred Romero has definitely developed as a singer and his voice now feels like a very natural part of Dark Moors sound, and in contrast to many other Spanish singers his English is not bad at all. The main thing here though is the excellent quality of the song material and the clever and tasteful way things are arranged within the framework of a very good production. All in all ‘Project X’ has become a successful hybrid of 70’s prog rock, AOR and symphonic power meal.

Discography:

‘Project X’ 2015

‘Ars Musica’ 2013

‘Acestral Romance’ 2010

‘Autumnal’ 2009

‘Tarot’ 2007

‘Beyond the sea’ 2005

‘Dark moor’ 2003

‘The gates of oblivion’ 2002

‘The hall of the olden dreams’ 2000

‘Shadowland’ 1999